Torque transmission by inertia



Dec. 17, 1968 H. CANCRINUS TORQUE TRANSMISSION BY INERTIA Original FiledApril 5, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l kl X INVENTOR HENDRIK CANCRINUS Dec.17, 1968 H. CANCRINUS 25507 TORQUE TRANSMISSION BY INERTIA OriginalFiled April 5, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HENDRIK CANCRINUS BY A {7Mme/11%, 6 7M ATTORNEYS Dec. 17, 1968 H. CANCRINUS TORQUE TRANSMISSIONBY INERTIA 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 5, 1960 mvmon HENDRI KCANCRJNUS P121 BY ;Zmw,f

ATTORNEYS Dec. 17, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed April 5,

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ATTORNEYS Dec. 17, 1968 H. CANCRINUS TORQUE TRANSMISSION BY INER'IIA 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed April 5, 1960 k\\ \\\X 7//////////////////flfl///fl///////// FIGB INVENIOR HENDRIK (ANCRINUSATTORNEY5 United States Patent Ofiice Reissued Dec. 17, 1968 26,507TORQUE TRANSMISSION BY INERTIA Hendrik Cancrinus, Rondebosch, CapeProvince, Republic of South Africa, assignor to Inpower Works(Proprietary) Limited, Windhoek, South-West Africa Original No.3,077,793, dated Feb. 19, 1963, Ser. No.

20,047, Apr. 5, 1960. Application for reissue Nov. 10,

1966, Ser. No. 615,870

Claims priority, application Republic of South Africa Apr. 13, 1959 14Claims. (Cl. 74-752) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to apparatus for transmitting torque by inertia.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for transmittingtorque over a range of speeds, with flexibility.

According to the invention, a torque transmitter com prises a carrier,at least one planet wheel mounted in the carrier to rotate about its ownaxis, a drum around the carrier and coaxial With the carrier and asecond axis, the carrier and drum being mounted to rotate about thesecond axis, drive connecting means connected to said carrier forconnecting the carrier to a source of rotary power, a sun wheel coaxialwith the second axis, connecting means connected to the sun wheel forconnecting the sun wheel to a load to absorb rotary power, intermediatedrive means drivingly connecting the planet wheel with the sun wheel andapplying torque developed about the axis of said planet wheel in thesame direction about the second axis, a plurality of liquid entrappingrneans fast with the planet wheel and defining recesses spacedcircumferentially away from and around the planet wheel axis, wherebywhen a quantity of liquid is placed in the drum and said carrier andsaid drum are rotated, the liquid is flung out in an annular layeragainst the inner peripheral surface of the drum under the action ofcentrifugal force, and whereby when the planet wheel rotates about itsaxis, the liquid entrapping means pass through the annular layer ofliquid and entrap liquid in the recesses and displace the entrappedliquid inwardly away from the periphery of the drum in a directiontowards the second axis, and after displacement reject such displacedliquid under the action of centrifugal force in a direction outwardlytowards the annular layer.

The invention may include one or more of the following features.

The intermediate drive means may include a chain engageable withsprockets comprising the planet wheel and sun wheel. Or if desired theplanet wheel and sun wheel may be toothed gear wheels and theintermediate drive means may include an idler between the planet wheeland sun wheel and meshing with them both. Of course the same result asby a single idler may be obtained by equivalent means, such as an oddnumber of toothed gear idlers meshing in series and with the sun wheelon the one hand and with the planet wheel on the other hand. A pluralityof planet wheels may be provided, symmetrically disposed for balanceabout the second axis.

One revolution of the carrier in a positive direction about the secondaxis when the sun wheel is stationary will cause the planet wheel toperform a positive revolution about its own axis and to have a negativearcuate displacement about its own axis dependent upon the relativenumbers of teeth of the sun and planet Wheels. If the ratio between thenumbers of teeth is unity, then the negative arcuate displacement willbe a full revolution and will cancel out the full positive revolutionand in fact the planet wheel will then be not arcuately displaced at allabout its own axis, and the arm of the eccentric mass about the planetwheel will then execute a motion which may be termed circulartranslation.

The mass may be connected to the planet wheel by an arm, theintermediate drive means connects planet and sun wheels and theconnecting means connects sun wheel and output shaft.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claimsand from the following description of specific embodiments of theinvention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows diagrammatically in end elevation a chain driven sun andplanet wheel arrangement together with eccentric mass;

FIGURE 2 shows diagrammatically in end elevation at chain-driven sun andplanet wheel arrangement, the eccentric mass being a liquid in acontainer;

FIGURE 3 shows diagrammatically in end elevation the arrangement ofFIGURE 2 within a drum containing liquid for charging the container;

FIGURE 4 shows diagrammatically in end elevation the arrangement of apair of containers provided symmetrically disposed about the planetwheel axis;

FIGURE 5 shows diagrammatically in end elevation the disposition of acontainer relative to the sun wheel axis when the drive is directbetween carrier and sun wheel;

FIGURE 6 shows diagrammatically in sectional end elevation along VIVI,the arrangement of a number of containers provided around a pair ofsymmetrically disposed planet wheels within a drum;

FIGURE 7 shows diagrammatically a sectional side elevation along VIIVIIand corresponding to FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 shows diagrammatically a sectional side elevation of anembodiment similar to that shown in FIGURE 7 but having a drum freelyrotatable about the second axis;

FIGURE 9 shows diagrammatically along XX a sectional end elevation of afurther embodiment of the invention having a vane wheel;

FIGURE 10 shows diagrammatically along IX-IX a sectional side elevationcorresponding to FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 11 shows diagrammatically a sectional end elevation of a furtherdevelopment of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 9 and 10.

FIGURE 1 and the description in relation to it are merely given by wayof explanation for a better understanding of the invention and no claimis directed to the construction there shown and described.

Referring to FIGURE 1, reference numeral 10 refers to a planet wheelhaving an eccentric mass 12 on an arm 14 and mounted to rotate about anaxis 16 in a carrier not shown but which is mounted to rotate about asecond axis 18 parallel to the first axis 16. An intermediate drivemeans which may be an idler gear, a connecting rod 17, or a chain, butwhich is shown in this figure for convenience to be a chain 20,drivingly connects planet wheel 10 with a sun wheel 22 providedcoaxially with the second axis 18. In FIGURE 1 the planet wheel and massare shown in four positions, namely positions (a), (b), (c) and (d) forthe case where the planet wheel and the sun wheel have equal numbers ofteeth. When a rotary power input is applied to the carrier, the planetwheel axis describes the circular locus 24 and while the sun wheel isstationary the planet wheel does not rotate about its axis, and thecentre of gravity of the mass 12 will describe the circular orbits 26.In orbiting, the mass has centrifugal force directed away from thecentre of orbit 26, as shown at 01, b1, cl and d1. This centrifugalforce when acting on an effective arm through the planet wheel axisdevelops a turning moment about that axis and this turning moment istransmitted through the intermediate drive means to the sun wheel 22.The turning moment has maximum values at positons (b) and (d) but inopposite senses, the turning moment at (b) being regarded forconvenience as being positive, and the turning moment at (d) beingregarded as negative. The turning moment on the planet wheel is zero atpositons (a) and (c), because in these positions the centrifugal forceis directly in line with the planet wheel about its axis, i.e. there isno effective arm, and therefore it can exert no moment on the planetwheel about its axis.

By employing a one way device, in the construction shown in FIGURE 1,positive torque pulses only may be carried over from the planet wheelonto an output shaft connected to the sun wheel 22. In accordance withthe invention, however, instead of the solid mass 12, there is providedliquid retaining means 12a (see FIGURE 2) fast with the planet wheel andeccentric to its axis, adapted to receive and to retain liquid in someregions of its orbit and adapted to reject it in others. The effectivemass is therefore variable in magnitude.

Referring to FIGURE 2 it will be seen that an arrangement is providedsimilar to that shown in FIGURE 1 except that instead of solid mass 12,there is provided liquid retaining means in the form of a container 12aadapted to receive liquid and to reject it. The container is shownhaving an opening 120 through which the received liquid is adapted toenter and to be rejected. The openings are shown diagrammatically in thedrawings as being of V-shape in end elevation but they may be of anysuitable shape. Referring to FIGURE 3 the container is filled byallowing it to become immersed in a layer of liquid 28 disposedcircumferentially within a drum 30 under the [section] action ofcentrifugal force due to the rotation of the liquid. As can be seen fromFIGURE 3, the container 120 dips into the layer at position (a) whereits orbit passes through the layer, then it is full of liquid atposition (b), and it loses its liquid in the region of position (c). Themass therefore varies in magnitude from a maximum when the container 12ais full of liquid as shown at position (b), to a minimum when thecontainer is empty as shown at the position (d). In position (b) themoment arm is at right angles to the centrifugal force on the mass thusgiving the maximum effective torque. Conversely in position (at) thereis no mass and consequently no centrifugal force and therefore noeffective torque. In positions (a) and there is no torque because theetfective arm is zero. The directions of the centrifugal force on theliquid mass in the various positions are indicated by references a2, b2and c2 in FIG- URE 2. No reference d2 is shown because liquid wasrejected completely from the container in travelling from the c to the dposition, and hence as there is no mass there can be no centrifugalforce.

Referring to FIGURE 4 there is shown a further development of thearrangement shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 in that the planet wheel isprovided with a further container 13a on an opposing arm 14a to balancethe container 12a and arm 14. In FIGURE 4 the planet wheel withcontainers is shown also in the four positions (a), (b), (c) and (d).When the sun wheel is stationary and does not rotate about the secondaxis 18 the position as shown in FIGURE 4 will obtain, namely thecontainers 12a will orbit along orbit 26 and the container 13a willorbit along 26a, the orbits being circular. As can be seen from thisfigure, the containers 12a and 13a balance each other about the planetwheel axis and the maximum positive turning moment of filled container12a at position (b) is assisted by the maximum positive turning momentof filled container 13a at position (d), the effective torque beingproportional to the centrifugal forces [13, and d3, acting on the liquidmassed in the containers.

In the aforegoing description relating to FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 4 theposition was considered when the sun wheel was stationary and was notturning about its axis. As soon as the sun wheel starts to turn, themass 12 or the con tainers 12a and 1311, will no longer describe trulycircular orbits but will be arcuately displaced about the planet wheelaxis until again arrested by the drag on the sun wheel. When finally thesun wheel rotates at the same speed as the carrier then the position ofequilibrium is reached as shown in FIGURE 5 in which the moment exertedby the centrifugal force CF on the liquid in container 12a about theplanet wheel axis is sufiicient to overcome the resisting torque or dragon the sun wheel.

In the description relating to FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 the ratio ofthe numbers of teeth between planet wheel and sun wheel were consideredas unity. This, of course, need not necessarily be so. The intermediatedrive means employed between the planet wheel and the sun wheel willensure that the centrifugal force on the mass 12 and exerting a turningmoment on the planet wheel about the planet wheel axis will bepredominantly due to the rotation of the carrier about the second axisand that this centrifugal force will not be nullified by the centrifugalforce on the mass due to rotation about the planet wheel axis. Planetwheel and sun wheel tooth ratios are also so chosen that this does nottake place.

The principles described with reference to FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4 and 5 aredeveloped further and may be described with reference to FIGURES 6 and 7in which a plurality of containers 12a are attached to each of theplanet wheels 10 by means of spiders 32. The intermediate drive means inthis embodiment shown, that is in FIG- URES 6 and 7, includes idlerwheels 34 mounted to rotate about pins 36 fixed to carrier 38 which isattached to input shaft 40. Fixed to or integral with carrier 38 is drum42 around spiders 32 and containers 12a and planet wheels 10 and so on.The idlers 34 are in mesh with sun wheel 22 integral with output shaft44. The whole arrangement is rotatably supported about the second axis,that is about the axis of the coaxial input shaft 40 and output shaft44, in a frame 46, the one end 47 of the output shaft being rotatablysupported in the carrier. The fluid is rejected our of the containers12a through the openings 12c outwardly from the central r gion of thecarrier relative to the drum, in the direction of arrows towards theperipheral layer of liquid 28. (See also FIGURE 4.) The rejection ofliquid takes place under the action of centrifugal force, and in passingtowards the peripheral layer, the liquid passes transversely through thecontainer wheels 32a.

In operation, oil in the drum 42 is whirled around so that under theaction of centrifugal force it forms a layer 28 within the drum (seeFIGURE 3), input power being applied to input shaft 40. The peripheralspeed of the oil is greater than that of the containers 12a and thus theoil impinges upon the containers and imparts a force to them which istransmitted as a positive moment onto the sun wheel. This moment isquite apart from the moment applied to the planet wheel about its axis16 by the mass of liquid within the containers 12a under the action ofcentrifugal force acting on the mass of liquids due to the rotation ofthe carrier 38 about the second axis 18. The difference in speed betweenthe containers 12a and the liquid 28, apart from exerting a positivemoment on the output shaft, also results in heat development. If thisheat development is not desired, then this embodiment of the inventionmay be suitably modified as shown in FIG- URE 8 in which a drum 42a isprovided instead of drum 42 and is not connected to the carrier but ismounted around the carrier and containers, to be freely rotatable aboutthe second axis. In such an arrangement, the drum rotates freely, drivenby the frictional drug of the rotating liquid within the drum, theliquid being caused to rotate by the passage of the containers 12athrough it. Of course, if desired, vanes 48 may be provided, attached tothe carrier 38 and adapted to whirl the oil around within the drumagainst the inner surface of the drum.

Referring now to FIGURES 9 and 10 there is provided a drum 42 comprisingthe carrier 3-8 and a shroud defined by drum end walls [42a] 42c and42b, and shroud wall 50. Within the drum there is provided a vane wheel52 fast with the planet wheel 10, and adapted to rotate about the planetwheel axis 16 within the shroud. The vane wheel 52 has radiallyprojecting vanes 54.

In operation rotation of the carrier by a rotary power input causesliquid in the drum to be thrown out against the inner surface of thedrum 42 in a layer 28. When the sun wheel 22 is stationary the rotationof the carrier in a positive direction causes the planet wheel 10 to bedriven to rotate about its axis 16 in a negative direction by idlerwheel 34 mounted to rotate about pin 36 fixed to the carrier 38. Thisrotation of the planet wheel causes the vane wheel 52 to rotate in thedirection of arrow 56' and in so doing displaces liquid against theaction of centrifugal force towards the central region of the drum. Thiscentrifugal force exercises a positive moment on the vane wheel aboutthe planet wheel axis which is thereupon transferred to the idler 34 andthence onto the sun wheel 22. At full speed running, that is when theoutput shaft rotates at the same speed as the carrier then the vanewheel will be substantially stationary in relation to the carrier butwill move only slightly relative to the carrier, to make up the liquidbetween vanes and shroud, which may leak out during operation. The vanewheel will therefore have the continual tendency of making up the liquidleaking past the vanes, and therefore it may occur in this embodiment ofthe invention that the output shaft rotates at a slightly less speedthan the carrier when full input torque is being transmitted to theoutput shaft.

The vane wheel in displacing liquid towards the central region of thedrum against the action of centrifugal force, does work and if notrecovered will be lost by merely being flung outward under the action ofcentrifugal force towards liquid layer 28 along the inner surface of thedrum 42. This work may be recovered by causing the liquid deliveredtoward the central region of the drum, to impinge upon the vanes of aservant wheel provided, in being flung outwards toward the outer layerof liquid. The outward flow of the liquid is guided by wall 50b onto thevanes 54a of the servant wheel 52a by means of extension 50a to wall 50.The servant wheel 52a is mounted to rotate about an axis in the carrierand is provided with abutment means between the frame and the axis ofthe servant wheel, to permit of the torque generated on the servant vanewheel by the impinging liquid to exert a turning moment on the carrierabout the second axis and in the direction of drive to the carrier.

In FIGURE 10 the abutment means is shown to include a gear train havinga gear wheel 58 fixed to the servant vane wheel 52a and in mesh with anidler 60 mounted to rotate about a in 62 attached to the carrier 38, theidler 60 in its turn being in mesh with a sun wheel 64 providedcoaxially with the second axis and fixed to the frame 46. An alternativearrangement of abutment means may include a chain and sprocketarrangement having a sprocket fixed to the servant vane wheel 52a and asprocket coaxial with the second axis and fixed to the frame 46, bothsprockets being engageable by the chain. A yet further alternativearrangement of abutment means, may include a connecting rod pivotallymounted in the vane wheel 52a and in frame 46 the pivotal axes beingparallel to the rotational axis of the servant vane wheel 52 and thesecond axis 18. The eccentricity of the pivotal axes of the connectingrod is such that the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod is alwaysparallel to the plane containing the second axis and the pivotal axis ofthe servant vane Wheel 5211.

FIGURE 11 shows a further development of the em- 6 bodiment shown inFIGURES 9 and 10 and shows two vane wheels 52 provided and oppositelydisposed, each arranged to deliver liquid into the pockets 66, whencethe liquid is adapted to flow outwardly under the action of centrifugalforce and to impinge against the vanes 54a of servant wheels 52a.

Instead of providing a single toothed-gear idler or an odd number ofsuch idlers between sun and planet wheels, there may be provided a chainconnecting sprocket planet and sun wheels, or where a ratio of unitybetween sun and planet wheels is permissible a connecting rod may beprovided, pivotally mounted in the sun and planet wheels and such thatits longitudinal axis at all times is parallel to a line joining thecentres of the planet and sunwheels.

I claim:

[1. A torque transmitter comprising a carrier, at least one planet wheelmounted in the carrier to rotate about its own axis, a drum around thecarrier and coaxial with the carrier and a second axis, the carrier anddrum being mounted to rotate about the second axis, drive connectingmeans connected to said carrier for connecting the carrier to a sourceof rotary power, a sun wheel coaxial with the second axis, connectingmeans connected to the sun wheel for connecting the sun wheel to a loadto absorb rotary power, intermediate drive means drivingly connectingthe planet wheel with the sun wheel and applying torque developed aboutthe axis of said planet wheel in the same direction about the secondaxis, a plurality of liquid entrapping means fast with the planet wheeland defining recesses spaced circumferentially away from and around theplanet wheel axis, whereby when a quantity of liquid is placed in thedrum and said carrier and said drum are rotated, the liquid is flung outin an annular layer against the inner peripheral surface of the drumunder the action of centrifugal force, and whereby when the planet wheelrotates about its axis, the liquid entrapping means pass through theannular layer of liquid and entrap liquid in the recesses and displacethe entrapped liquid inwardly away from the periphery of the drum in adirection towards the second axis, and after displacement reject suchdisplaced liquid under the action of centrifugal force in a directionoutwardly towards the annular layer] [2. A torque transmitter comprisinga carrier, at least one planet wheel rotatably mounted in the carriedfor rotation about its own axis, a frame in which the carrier is mountedto rotate about a second axis parallel to the planet wheel axis, a drumaround the carrier and coaxial with its rotational axis, driveconnecting means connecting to said carrier for connecting the carrierto a source of rotary power, a sun wheel coaxial with the second axis,connecting means connected to said sun wheel for connecting the sunwheel to a load to absorb rotary power, intermediate drive meansdrivingly connecting the planet wheel with the sun wheel and applyingtorque developed about the planet whee] axis in the same direction aboutthe second axis, a plurality of outwardly projecting vanes fast with theplanet wheel and spaced circumferentially about the planet wheel axis, ashroud fast with the carrier and extending around the ends and sides ofthe vanes at a position trailing the planet wheel relative to thedirection of rotation of. the carrier about the second axis, whereby,when a quantity of liquid is placed in the drum and the carrier and drumare rotated, the liquid is flung out in an annular layer against theinner peripheral surface of the drum under the action of centrifugalforce, and whereby the vanes during rotation of the planet wheel aboutits axis dip into the layer of flung out liquid and entrap liquidbetween them and the shroud and displace such entrapped liquid inwardlyaway from the periphery of the drum in a direction towards the secondaxis; and in which there are provided at least one servant wheel mountedin the carrier to rotate about its own axis parallel to the second axis,outwardly extending vanes fast with the servant wheel, an anchor sunwheel coaxial with the second axis and fast with the frame, drivingmeans drivingly connecting the servant wheel and anchor sun wheel andapplying torque developed about the servant container wheel axis in thesame direction about the anchor sun wheel axis, a shroud fast with thecarrier and extending around the ends and sides of the vanes at aposition leading the planet wheel relative to the direction of rotationof the carrier about the second axis, whereby liquid displaced inwardlyby the vanes of the planet wheel is received onto the vanes of theservant wheel, the liquid being displaced outwardly to the annular layerunder the action of centrifugal force and exerting a turning moment onthe servant wheel about its axis, which turning moment is transmitted tothe carrier via the driving means and anchor sun wheel] [3. A torquetransmitter comprising a carrier, at least one planet wheel mounted inthe carrier to rotate about its own axis, a drum around the carrier andcoaxial with the carrier and a second axis, the carrier and drum beingmounted to rotate about the second axis, drive connecting meansconnected to said carrier for connecting the carrier to a source ofrotary power, a sun wheel coaxial with the second axis, connecting meansconnected to the sun wheel for connecting the sun wheel to a load toabsorb rotary power, intermediate drive means drivingly connecting theplanet wheel with the sun wheel and applying torque developed about theaxis of said planet Wheel in the same direction about the second axis, aplurality of outwardly projecting vanes fast with the planet Wheel andspaced circumferentially about the planet wheel axis, a shroud fast withthe carrier and extending around the ends and sides of the vanes at aposition trailing the planet wheel relative to the direction of rotationof the carrier about the second axis, whereby when a quantity of liquidis placed in the drum, and said carrier and said drum are rotated, theliquid is flung out in an annular layer against the inner peripheralsurface of the drum under the action of centrifugal force, and wherebywhen the planet wheel rotates about its axis, the vanes pass through theannular layer of liquid and entrap liquid between them and the shroudand displace such entrapped liquid inwardly away from the periphery ofthe drum in a direction towards the second axis, and after displacementreject such displaced liquid under the action of centrifugal force in adirection outwardly towards the annular layer] [4. A torque transmitteraccording to claim 1 in which the planet and sun wheels are toothed gearwheels and in which the intermediate drive means comprises a toothedidler wheel and a pin on the carrier on which the idler wheel isrotatably mounted in mesh with the planet and sun wheels] [5. A torquetransmitter according to claim 1 in which there is provided a pluralityof planet wheels rotatably mounted in dynamic balance about the secondaxis, and in which the axes of the planet wheels are parallel to thesecond axis] [6. A torque transmitter according to cla1m 1 m whlch theplanet and sun wheels comprise chain sprockets and in which theintermediate drive means comprises a drive chain in mesh with thesprockets] t [7. A torque transmitter according to cla1m in which thedrum is fast with and coaxial with the carrier] [8. A torque transmiteraccording to claim 1 in which the drum is freely rotatably mounted aboutthe second axis] [9. A torque transmitter according to cla1m 8 in whichthere are provided circumferentially spaced outwardly projecting vanesmounted on the carrler and hav ng an overall radius of the same order asthe maximum dlstance between containers and the said second axis] [10. Atorque transmitter according to claim 2 1p WhlCh the drum is secured toand coaxial with the carr1er.]

[11. A torque transmitter according to claim in which the drum is freelyrotatably mounted for rotation about the main axis] [12. A torquetransmitter according to claim 11 in which there are providedcircumferentially spaced outwardly projecting vanes mounted on thecarrier and having an overall radius of the same order as the maximumdistance between containers and main axis] [13. A torque transmitteraccording to claim 2 in which the servant and anchor sun wheel aretoothed gear wheels and in which the driving means comprises a toothedidler wheel, and a pin on the carrier on which the idler Wheel ismounted in mesh with the planet and sun wheels] [14. A torque transmiteraccording to claim 2 in which the servant and anchor sun wheels comprisechain sprockets and in which the driving means comprises a drive chainin mesh with the sprockets] [15. A torque transmitter according to claim1 in which the liquid entrapping means comprise containers spaced awayfrom the planet wheel axis and having openings directed in one directionabout the planet wheel axis] 16. A torque transmitter, including acarrier having an axis of rotation; a drum adapted to contain a quantityof liquid maintained in a peripheral layer under the influence ofcentrifugal force, the drum being around the carrier and coaxial withthe carrier and the carrier and the drum being mounted to rotate aboutthe carrier axis, drivc connected means connected to the carrier forconnccting the carrier to a source of rotary power; a sun wheel coaxialwith the carrier axis and rotatably mounted relative to the carrier;connecting means connected to the sun wheel for connecting it to a loadto absorb rotary power; intermediate drive means drivingly connected tothe sun wheel, and torque-developing means mounted on the carrier andincluding aplurality of planet wheels mounted on the carrier and adaptedto rotate about their own axes, the planet wheels being drivinglyconnected to the intermediate drive means for applying torque developedabout the axis of the planet wheel to the sun whccl in the somedirection about the sun wheel axis, each of the planet wheels having aplurality of liquidcntrapping means spaced apart circumfcrcntially fromeach other and radially away from the planet wheel axis to form aliquid-cntrapping wheel, the central portion of said whccl radiallyinwardly of said liquid-cmrapping means being open in the diametraldirection, the liquidentrapping means being adapted to entrap liquidfrom the peripheral liquid layer and being adapted to displace theentrapped liquid inwardly away from the peripheral layer in a directiontowards the carrier axis, the spaces between said liquid entrappingmeans constituting openings so positioned as to facilitate, after suchdisplacement and under the influence of centrifugal force, the rejectionof such displaced liquid in a direction towards the periphcral liquidlayer through the liquid-entrapping wheel.

17. A torque transmitter according to claim 16, in which theliquid-entrapping means are in the form of containers spacedcircumfercntially apart about the planet wheel axis, the said openingswhich are positioned to facilitate rejection of entrapped fluid afterdisplacement being defined between adjacent containers and beingdirected radially inwardly.

18. A torque transmitter according to claim 16, in which the planetwheel and sun wheels are toothed gear wheels, and in which theintermediate drive means comprises a toothed idler gear wheel rotatablymounted on the carrier and being in mesh with the planet wheel and sunwheel.

19. A torque transmitter according to claim 16, in which the planetwheel and sun wheel are chain sprockets and in which the intermediatedrive means comprises a drive chain in mesh with the sprockets.

20. A torque transmitter according to claim 16, in which the plunctwheels and associated liquid-cntrapping means are mounted in dynamicbalance about the carrier axis, and in which the axes of the planetwheels are parallel to the carrier axis.

21. A torque transmitter according to claim 16, in which the drum isfast with the carrier.

22. A torque transmitter according to claim 16, in which the drum isfreely rotatable about the carrier axis.

23. A torque transmitter according to claim 17, in which the containershave openings directed in one direction about the planet wheel axis.

24. A torque transmitter comprising a carrier, at least one planet wheelmounted in the carrier to rotate about its own axis, a drum around thecarrier and coaxial with the carrier and a second axis, the carrier anddrum being mounted to rotate about the second axis, drive connectingmeans connected to said carrier for connecting the carrier to a sourceof rotary power, a Sun wheel coaxial with the second axis, connectingmeans connected to the sun wheel for connecting the sun wheel to a loadto absorb rotary power, intermediate drive means drivingly connectingthe planet wheel with the sun wheel and applying torque developed aboutthe axis of said planet wheel in the same direction about the secondaxis, a pluarlity of outwardly projecting vanes fast with the planetwheel and spaced circumferentially about the planet wheel axis, a shroudfast with the carrier and extending around the ends and sides of thevanes at a position trailing the planet wheel relative to the directionof rotation of the carrier about the second axis, whereby when aquantity 0 liquid is placed in the drum, and said carrier and said drumare rotated, the liquid is flung out in an annular layer against theinner peripheral surface of the drum under the action of centrifugalforce, and whereby when thc planet wheel rotates about its axis, thevanes pass through the annular layer of liquid and entrap liquid betweenthem and the shroud and displace such entrapped liquid inwardly awayfrom the periphery of the drum in a direction towards the second axis,and after displacement reject such displaced liquid under the action ofcentrifugal force in a direction outwardly towards the annular layer.

25. A torque transmitter according to claim 24, in 40 which the planetwheel and sun wheels are toothed gear wheels, and in which theintermediate drive means comprises a toothed idler gear wheel, rotatablymounted on the carrier and being in mesh with the planet wheel and sunwhel.

26. A torque transmitter according to claim 24, in which the planetwheel and sun wheel are chain sprockets, and in which the intermediatedrive means comprises a drive chain in mesh with the sprockets.

27. A torque transmitter according to claim 24, in which the planetwheels and associated liquid-entrapping means are mounted in dynamicbalance about the carrier axis, and in which the axes of the planetwheels are parallel to the carrier axis.

28. A torque transmitter according to claim 24, in which the drum isfast with the carrier.

29. A torque transmitter according to claim 24, in which the drum iffreely rotatable about the carrier axis.

References Cited The folowing references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,691,610 11/1928 Reece et a1. 74-752 1,866,0027/1932 Anderson 74-774 2,293,547 8/1942 Hobbs -74774 X 1,546,405 7/1925Reece 74-752 1,666,152 4/1928 Etrigl 74-774 1,691,612 11/1928 Reece eta1 74-752 1,717,466 6/1929 Reece ct a1 74-752 1,812,176 6/1931 Sheridan74-752 1,933,143 10/1933 Janssen 74-752 2,179,405 11/1939 Falco 74-7522,565,551 8/1951 Dougherty 74-774 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,044,416 6/ 1953France.

502,346 3/1939 Great Britain.

762,873 12/ 1956 Great Britain.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS C. PERRY, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 74-774

